Opera Steamboat

'''Opera Steamboat''' Opera Steamboat, formerly known as Emerald City Opera, is a musical arts organization located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It was established in 2002 by Keri Rusthoi with the mission to enrich the community's well-being through innovative, educational, and collaborative musical arts programs. The organization's vision is to gain national recognition as an innovative musical arts organization that creates inspiring productions in the unique setting of the Rocky Mountains. The values that guide Opera Steamboat include civic practice, community and collaboration, equity, diversity, and inclusion, innovation and excellence, integrity and kindness, joy and inspiration, and resilience and courage. The Board of Trustees is chaired by Susan Kirkpatrick, with Gary R. Nelson serving as Vice Chair, Dagny McKinley as Secretary, Jack Dysart as Treasurer, and other esteemed members including Rick Dowden, Sarah Hopfenbeck, M.D., and Jon Ringbom. The staff is led by General Director and CEO Julie Maykowski, with Thea Wigglesworth as the Director of Community Engagement. The organization's history is marked by significant milestones and contributions to the arts. In 2003, it provided a vocal master class series, and in 2004, it added the Touring Opera Troupe to introduce opera to young audiences. The Opera Artist Institute, a summer training program for emerging artists, was founded in 2008. Jack Dysart took over as Executive Director and Board Chair in 2009, leading to a financially successful period. In 2014, vocal workshops were extended to special needs communities, and Andres Cladera was appointed as Artistic Director. The rebranding to Opera Steamboat occurred in 2017 to better reflect the organization's purpose and location. Recent developments include the introduction of vocal/piano concerts in 2021 and the presentation of Summer Festival operas conducted by female conductors. The organization celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022 and underwent a transition with Ben Robinson as Interim Artistic and Executive Director. This transition included the rebranding of the Opera Artist Institute to the Emerging Artist Program, which shifted from a tuition-based model to offering artists stipends. In December 2023, Julie Maykowski was named General Director and CEO. The year 2024 signaled a shift in organizational structure, moving away from a summer festival season to explore year-round programming. Opera Steamboat is also set to present its first commission and a World Premiere vocal theatre presentation of "Welcome to the Madness" by Leanna Kirchoff and Rachel J. Peters, in partnership with the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp. Opera Steamboat continues to evolve and expand its offerings, promising more innovative and engaging musical arts experiences in the future. [Header Image Courtesy: John Lanterman Photography]